The end is in sight.
I'm almost done with my first year of college. It has gone by pretty fast, though moving up here seems like a long time ago. I feel like I have changed a lot and grown up as well. From little things to big things, I've learned how to semi successfully do loads of laundry and I've also learned a lot about real world financial operations(even less fun than laundry.)
I'm thankful that God led me to Gainesville, I love the city and am now a huge supporter of going away to school, I recommend it to everyone.
However, not everything is easy. You really have to stay disciplined to succeed when you are on your own. You're going to make mistakes, luckily I've been able to get through my first year without any major ones.
If I had to give people some tips about college I would say to get organized and plan a lot more.
Try to relax and not freak out about college, you can handle it if you work at it.
For us Christians, it is brave to avoid sin, and foolish to put yourself in bad situations and try and "stand up" to temptation. The flesh fails you.
Definitely stick to your beliefs. I've seen too many people compromise what they stand for, and end up losing themselves in the process. This has drastic effects.
All in all, it has been a great year so far, I just have to wrap up this last month and a half and finish strong. I look forward to being home soon, but won't mind coming back.
Love
I think Christianity gets over complicated very often. People need things to talk about and they focus on rules and religion, while missing the simple truth.
I was reading 1 John, and the thought that comes through over and over is to love one another.
That's it.
Just how all sin comes from pride, all righteousness comes from love.
I'm not saying loving one another is always easy, but it is what we must do.
"But anyone who hates a brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness." - 1 John 2:11
With that scripture, I challenge you to love those around you, and I also challenge you to forgive.
It's not hard to love people, it's hard to forgive people that hurt you. Those are the people that are hard to love.
God says to let those grudges go.
Forgive those people of what they did to you.
Holding on to grudges and fantasies of revenge only strengthens that person's hold on you and your life. It only makes the hurt worse, and pulls you both farther away.
The scriptures say to put away your hate, to forgive one another, and love one another.
If you continue to hate, you're still walking in darkness.
If you have someone in your life that you need to forgive, that you need to love, I pray that you have the courage to walk in the light and start loving that person.
I was reading 1 John, and the thought that comes through over and over is to love one another.
That's it.
Just how all sin comes from pride, all righteousness comes from love.
I'm not saying loving one another is always easy, but it is what we must do.
"But anyone who hates a brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness." - 1 John 2:11
With that scripture, I challenge you to love those around you, and I also challenge you to forgive.
It's not hard to love people, it's hard to forgive people that hurt you. Those are the people that are hard to love.
God says to let those grudges go.
Forgive those people of what they did to you.
Holding on to grudges and fantasies of revenge only strengthens that person's hold on you and your life. It only makes the hurt worse, and pulls you both farther away.
The scriptures say to put away your hate, to forgive one another, and love one another.
If you continue to hate, you're still walking in darkness.
If you have someone in your life that you need to forgive, that you need to love, I pray that you have the courage to walk in the light and start loving that person.
Hurdles
Life hurts, it beats you down and wears you out.
There are times when I am exhausted.
I feel like I can't battle sin anymore.
I just don't understand why a loving God would make it so hard for me to follow Him.
I try and do what's right but still do what's wrong.
My flesh leads me to temptations I can't withstand.
I am weak.
It's times like this when this verse hits home.
"Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10
You see, Paul's been there.
He knows what I'm going through. He was a better Christian than me and even he still had sin he had to battle. It's not about being perfect, I just can't do that. I try my hardest, but I still screw up. But it is in my weaknesses, my failures, my defeats, my brokenness, when He is strong.
Maybe that's why I write at a time like this, fresh from battle with sin, in my moments of weakness is when God will use this.
But I tell you, in our defeats, we find victory in him.
When all is lost, He is there.
Through Him, we can overcome.
These sound like cliches until you've been there. God has lifted my spirits and delivered me from my shame and hurt.
He can do the same from you.
Only God can heal a broken home, stop an addiction, or simply give you the strength to go on.
Life is hard, I screw up.
All I know is life is better with Jesus than without.
It breaks my heart to see people going through pain without God. I firmly believe that is one reason why God puts hurdles in our paths. So we can experience them, and overcome. Once you've been there, you can reach out and help someone who is there now.
Only those who have been through divorce can truly understand the hurt of someone going through divorce.
Only those who have overcome addiction can relate to others trapped in the bondage of addiction.
God gives us the strength, when we are weak, to pull through problems, reach out to others, and in the end glorify Him.
There are other forces at work, causing pain and sorrow, we come across those people in our lives everyday, coworkers, classmates, spouses, family. God doesn't make us immune to these problems, God gives us the strength to deal with them, and come out on top, victorious.
That way we can go into a broken world and show them that there is a way out of the pain.
That way is Jesus.
There are times when I am exhausted.
I feel like I can't battle sin anymore.
I just don't understand why a loving God would make it so hard for me to follow Him.
I try and do what's right but still do what's wrong.
My flesh leads me to temptations I can't withstand.
I am weak.
It's times like this when this verse hits home.
"Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10
You see, Paul's been there.
He knows what I'm going through. He was a better Christian than me and even he still had sin he had to battle. It's not about being perfect, I just can't do that. I try my hardest, but I still screw up. But it is in my weaknesses, my failures, my defeats, my brokenness, when He is strong.
Maybe that's why I write at a time like this, fresh from battle with sin, in my moments of weakness is when God will use this.
But I tell you, in our defeats, we find victory in him.
When all is lost, He is there.
Through Him, we can overcome.
These sound like cliches until you've been there. God has lifted my spirits and delivered me from my shame and hurt.
He can do the same from you.
Only God can heal a broken home, stop an addiction, or simply give you the strength to go on.
Life is hard, I screw up.
All I know is life is better with Jesus than without.
It breaks my heart to see people going through pain without God. I firmly believe that is one reason why God puts hurdles in our paths. So we can experience them, and overcome. Once you've been there, you can reach out and help someone who is there now.
Only those who have been through divorce can truly understand the hurt of someone going through divorce.
Only those who have overcome addiction can relate to others trapped in the bondage of addiction.
God gives us the strength, when we are weak, to pull through problems, reach out to others, and in the end glorify Him.
There are other forces at work, causing pain and sorrow, we come across those people in our lives everyday, coworkers, classmates, spouses, family. God doesn't make us immune to these problems, God gives us the strength to deal with them, and come out on top, victorious.
That way we can go into a broken world and show them that there is a way out of the pain.
That way is Jesus.
Gifts
"To whom much is given, much is expected." -Luke 12:48
Spiderman says this in different words, "with great power, comes great responsibility."
It is all the same thing.
All of us are given gifts, things are bestowed upon us that we don't deserve.
We are born into privileged circumstances, or have certain skills and talents that come naturally.
In all cases it is our duty to use those gifts to give back to the world.
If you are wealthy, it is your duty to give monetarily to causes in need.
If you are famous, it is your duty to use your influence to do what is right.
I think that is one responsibility we all have. We all must use our influence to do what is right.
I know it is easy to say these things as a college kid with nothing to really sacrifice.
I am searching.
I am looking and learning for my gifts and how to use them.
I think that's something we should all try to attain.
We all have gifts, and though they are blessings, they come with burdens.
The burden is to use these gifts for the better of all people.
If we all used our gifts for more than ourselves, if we also used them for others, the world would be a better place.
It is a slow change, but changing the culture of the world is one person, one day, at a time.
So I encourage you to start today.
We all have special gifts.
What are yours?
How do you use them?
How can you use them for others?
I'll be exploring the same questions, and looking for the same answers as you.
It's a journey, but with a great goal in mind.
Spiderman says this in different words, "with great power, comes great responsibility."
It is all the same thing.
All of us are given gifts, things are bestowed upon us that we don't deserve.
We are born into privileged circumstances, or have certain skills and talents that come naturally.
In all cases it is our duty to use those gifts to give back to the world.
If you are wealthy, it is your duty to give monetarily to causes in need.
If you are famous, it is your duty to use your influence to do what is right.
I think that is one responsibility we all have. We all must use our influence to do what is right.
I know it is easy to say these things as a college kid with nothing to really sacrifice.
I am searching.
I am looking and learning for my gifts and how to use them.
I think that's something we should all try to attain.
We all have gifts, and though they are blessings, they come with burdens.
The burden is to use these gifts for the better of all people.
If we all used our gifts for more than ourselves, if we also used them for others, the world would be a better place.
It is a slow change, but changing the culture of the world is one person, one day, at a time.
So I encourage you to start today.
We all have special gifts.
What are yours?
How do you use them?
How can you use them for others?
I'll be exploring the same questions, and looking for the same answers as you.
It's a journey, but with a great goal in mind.
Quick Note
I'm coming up on a rough few weeks. I just took a test, have a quiz in my next class, and a test in the following class. And a paper over the weekend. This is a long day, and I will be glad when its over.
So I'm busy, but I'm sure you are too.
These next three weeks are going to be tough, but then I have spring break, and then it is only a month until summer. And things should be a little more spaced out during that time.
So I can't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I do know that I've been driving through the tunnel for a while and it should be ending soon. Does that make sense?
Later.
P.S.- Check out this scary quote I came across:
“Owners of capital will stimulate working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism”
Karl Marx from “Das Kapital”
1867
So I'm busy, but I'm sure you are too.
These next three weeks are going to be tough, but then I have spring break, and then it is only a month until summer. And things should be a little more spaced out during that time.
So I can't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I do know that I've been driving through the tunnel for a while and it should be ending soon. Does that make sense?
Later.
P.S.- Check out this scary quote I came across:
“Owners of capital will stimulate working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism”
Karl Marx from “Das Kapital”
1867
Untitled
Hey.
I don't know how to start this blog really. I feel a little boastful to talk about this. And it is a little emotional, but I hope it helps someone.
I love this time of night. My room mate is out, I have the dorm to myself. Having this time has really made it easy for me to have a better quiet time.
Tonight is just one of those nights. Where God is drawing me close to Him. I have no idea why.
I know I don't deserve it.
It is one of those nights when I can physically feel His presence. It is a chilling yet comforting sensation. I just feel happy. I guess the biblical word would be joyful.
He is reminding me of other times when I felt close to Him, friends that were there with me, and great times of worship.
There are many nights when I feel alone and like my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. But it's great to have a night like this where I feel close to Him.
These times really intrigue me. I have no idea why some nights I feel like this, and other nights I don't. I don't really understand how it works. There is no formula, or ritual to invoke this. I just appreciate them when they come along.
I don't know if you guys ever physically feel something when you're praying, worshiping, reading your bible, or anything. Whatever it is, I want to know what it's like for you. How does it feel?
I don't know how to start this blog really. I feel a little boastful to talk about this. And it is a little emotional, but I hope it helps someone.
I love this time of night. My room mate is out, I have the dorm to myself. Having this time has really made it easy for me to have a better quiet time.
Tonight is just one of those nights. Where God is drawing me close to Him. I have no idea why.
I know I don't deserve it.
It is one of those nights when I can physically feel His presence. It is a chilling yet comforting sensation. I just feel happy. I guess the biblical word would be joyful.
He is reminding me of other times when I felt close to Him, friends that were there with me, and great times of worship.
There are many nights when I feel alone and like my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. But it's great to have a night like this where I feel close to Him.
These times really intrigue me. I have no idea why some nights I feel like this, and other nights I don't. I don't really understand how it works. There is no formula, or ritual to invoke this. I just appreciate them when they come along.
I don't know if you guys ever physically feel something when you're praying, worshiping, reading your bible, or anything. Whatever it is, I want to know what it's like for you. How does it feel?
Happy Valentine's Day
Guys, remember to get your gifts. You only have one day left. It's bad news, if you think that Valentine's Day isn't a big deal and you're partner will understand if you don't get her anything. BAD MOVE! Go get something. I'll wait...
Back?
Good.
Well for V-Day, Shannon came up to Gainesville. We are going to have a picnic on the lake and rent a canoe, and go out on the water for a bit. Then we're going to check out this nature trail because Shannon thinks we will see a bison.
We'll go out to dinner tonight to miss the crowds, and it should be a great weekend.
Right now we are celebrating by doing laundry!
Well, I'm doing laundry and she's taking a nap.
Fair enough, they are my clothes.
But anyways, I digress.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Back?
Good.
Well for V-Day, Shannon came up to Gainesville. We are going to have a picnic on the lake and rent a canoe, and go out on the water for a bit. Then we're going to check out this nature trail because Shannon thinks we will see a bison.
We'll go out to dinner tonight to miss the crowds, and it should be a great weekend.
Right now we are celebrating by doing laundry!
Well, I'm doing laundry and she's taking a nap.
Fair enough, they are my clothes.
But anyways, I digress.
Happy Valentine's Day.
